13 Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Premiums

Whether buying a single-family home, a townhouse, or a condominium, your home is your biggest asset. So, it only makes sense to purchase homeowners insurance. 

Homeowner insurance is required when financing a house through a mortgage company or bank. But even if you own your home outright or pay for a house with cash, you still need insurance.

Homeowners insurance protects your asset in the event of a covered peril.

These include windstorms, fire, theft, and water damage from a broken appliance or pipe. Knowing you have coverage to repair or rebuild your home after massive damage is peace of mind. 

But unfortunately, homeowners insurance isn't cheap. 

Premiums continue to rise from year to year. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, homeowners paid an average of more than $1,400 in 2020.

The good news:

Homeowners insurance isn't one-size-fits-all.

Premiums vary depending on where you live and the size of your property. Your actions can also affect your premium. So, if you want to pay less, you can lower your out-of-pocket cost. 

Here's a look at the 13 best ways to lower your homeowner's insurance.

1. Shop Around and Compare Policies

When purchasing homeowner's insurance, never get a policy from the first company you contact. 

Some assume that all policies are created equal and that they'll pay roughly the same regardless of company.

Yet, the cost of insurance can vary from company to company.

To reduce your premium and pay less out-of-pocket, contact at least 3 or 4 insurance companies and request free rate quotes.

Make sure you understand the coverage details. Once you have the quotes, compare them side-by-side to determine which policy offers the most value.

You can get recommendations from friends and family when choosing companies to compare. You can also locate companies by reading online reviews from reputable websites.

2. Choose a Higher Insurance Deductible

Similar to other insurance policies, homeowner's insurance also involves a deductible. This is what you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance pays a claim. 

Deductibles vary considerably, too.

Some deductibles are as low as $500, but others can be $1,000 or more per claim.

Choosing a lower deductible means paying less out-of-pocket when you file a claim. However, a low deductible also results in a higher monthly premium. 

As you compare insurance prices, ask your lender to provide rate quotes for low-deductible and high-deductible policies. Choosing a $1,000 or $2,500 deductible can make a significant monthly difference. 

As a side note, only choose a high-deductible policy if you have this amount in savings.

3. Keep a Good Credit Score

Many people associate a good credit score with a high chances of getting a loan or a credit card.

But you might not realize that some insurance companies check an applicant's credit before issuing a policy.

And if you have good credit, this can help you score a better rate.

From an insurance company's point of view, if you're responsible for your credit and debt, you're likely also to be accountable for your insurance policy and home. 

Building a more robust credit score takes time.

To achieve a better score, pay your bills on time and pay down consumer debt — especially credit card debt.

You should also check your credit report at least once a year. You can get a copy of your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. 

If you see any errors on your report, file a dispute to have these items removed from your file.

4. Ask About Insurance Discounts

You can also ask your insurance provider about eligible discounts.

The best part:

Sometimes, you can reduce your annual premium by simply asking. 

Some companies don't advertise specific discounts, but you might snag a lower premium if you're 55 and older or live near emergency services. This includes a fire hydrant or a fire station.

If emergency services can get to you faster, this helps protect your home from extensive damage in a fire.

5. Avoid Safety Hazards

Remember that your home insurance policy might increase if your property poses a safety risk. 

Unknown to some, your insurance company might charge a higher premium if you have a backyard pool, a trampoline, and a treehouse. 

Removing an existing treehouse can help you get a lower premium if you're moving into a new property.

If you have a pool, you might be able to negotiate a cheaper rate by installing a fence around the pool and adding a gate lock.

6. Buy a Security System

When shopping for homeowner's insurance, the insurance agent will ask many questions about your home's features. 

Be as specific as possible about home security features.

The more security features, the lower your premium. 

If your home lacks these features, add some to lower your rate. This includes an alarm system, hard-wired smoke detectors, and even deadbolts (so your home isn't an easy target).

7. Choose Your Dog Breed Carefully

If you're considering getting a dog and want to keep your homeowner's insurance cost within a specific price range, contact your insurer beforehand.

The truth is:

Some dog breeds will increase your homeowner's insurance premium.

And surprisingly, some insurance companies will deny coverage if certain breeds live on the property. About a third of homeowner insurance liability claims involve a dog bite.

8. Bundle Your Policy

Another way to score a discount and lower your homeowner's insurance premium is to bundle your insurance policies. 

Insurance companies will reward your loyalty.

Your provider may offer a multi-policy discount if you have auto, homeowner, and health insurance with the same company.

9. Reinforce Your Home

Even though homeowners insurance will repair or rebuild your home after massive damage, insurance companies prefer that you "don't" file a claim.

So, taking steps to make your home more robust and withstand natural events can reduce your premium. 

To protect your property, elevate your utilities and appliances to prevent water damage from flooding. You can also install hurricane-rated doors and garage doors.

Another option is to install storm shutters or retrofit your home to resist earthquakes.

10. Remove Structures You Don't Use

One benefit of homeowners insurance is that it doesn't only protect your physical home but also specific structures on your property.

These include:

• a detached garage
• a shed
• swimming pool

If you have older structures on your property that you no longer use, removing these from the property can save you money each month.

11. Pay Your Homeowners Insurance Upfront

Typically, you'll pay homeowners insurance through an escrow account.

In this case, your monthly mortgage payment will include repayment of both principal and interest and your monthly insurance premium. 

But if you pay your homeowner's insurance policy in full at renewal each year, you might be able to negotiate a lower cost.

12. Rethink Filing a Claim

Although homeowners insurance protects your property and valuables, filing too many claims within a short time can raise your premium.

Depending on the nature of a claim, even a single claim can increase your premium by hundreds each year. 

If your home sustains mild or moderate damage, and you have the cash to fix it yourself, consider whether it's worth contacting your homeowner's insurance company.

13. Buy a Property Inland

When shopping for a new home, you can keep your homeowner's insurance low by choosing an inland property. 

Living near a coastline might pay a higher premium if there's a greater risk of hurricanes.

Homeowners' insurance policies will cover damage caused by hurricanes.

Understand, though, that you'll pay a separate deductible for hurricanes. This is higher than the standard deductible. It's usually a percentage of your home's insured value.

If living near a coastline or within a flood zone, consider purchasing a separate flood insurance policy.

A standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage.

Final Word

Keeping your homeowner's insurance policy affordable is critical to maintaining a low monthly mortgage payment.

You'll typically pay these insurance premiums through an escrow account, which means your premiums are wrapped into your mortgage payment. 

Talk to your insurance provider for advice on how to get a lower rate.

Shopping around, making your home safer, and bundling your policies are just a few ways to save hundreds each year.